Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir,-It appears to me that our politicians and their advisors have once again failed to realise that the there is another side to this uproar over benefits.
Unless there is full employment by 2016, which is highly unlikely, those who are having to work longer before they retire will block their respective careers to those who are unemployed.
The government will therefore have to continue paying out benefits to those who are unemployed and a fair proportion of the monies saved will go towards paying benefits. So the anticipated savings will fall short.
Allan Murray.44 Napier Road,Glenrothes.
Population set to soar
Sir,-Two years ago the Office of National Statistics alerted us to the fact that the population of Britain would pass 70 million by 2029.
Last week the House of Commons Library disclosed that our population under present conditions will have risen to 70.4 millions by 2026. Such increases cannot go on without serious social, political and economic consequences.
Conservatively calculated, the Muslim population of Britain doubles every 15 years and from a baseline of three millions in 2010 there will be increases to six millions in 2025, 12 millions in 2040 and 24 millions in 2055.
If we add to these disquieting demographic statistics the clearly perceived increases in other Third World communities now resident en masse in our English cities, the media will have an impossible task in concealing the symptoms of the social unrest which the increasing prevalence of English Defence League marches now predicts.
Alastair Harper.House of Gask,By Dunfermline.
Zero infection worth praising
Sir,-The article by Marjory Inglis (June 28) had an opportunity to lavish praise on both the hospital at Stracathro and its staff.
It is deeply saddening that instead your staff chose a very negative headline which undermined what was in fact a very positive report by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate.
Surely a headline relating to the zero infection rate for MRSA and Clostridium Difficile would have been more news worthy, as it is very topical and a worry for most people when they have to go into hospital.
If I were a member of staff at Stracathro, I would be feeling betrayed and disappointed at this type of negative reporting, given that a zero infection rate is something they have probably worked very hard to achieve.
When the time comes for my operation, please put me in the hospital with the dirty linen. At least I won’t come out with more than I went in with.
Alan Kidd.Edzell.
Rituals could antagonise
Sir,-Once again our nationalist government has announced a problem, then fabricated or ignored some of the facts to support their claims, then made rules, regulations and laws to restrict the population.
I recall their attitude to the smoking ban, ignoring the social and economic problems created by such legislation, and ignoring available alternatives.
I recall their reaction to imbibing while ignoring the attitudes regulating licensed premises.
They have latched on to sectarianism.
Their approach to the problem seems illogical, as such attitudes are not genetic but are learned, either from home or school.
While Catholic schools proclaim their denomination over portals, Protestant schools are referred to as “other denominations” so as to lessen the difference pupils from other religious backgrounds might feel.
I feel this situation is being ignored.
The other fact being ignored is the change in attitudes of sporting bodies to encourage religious rituals on and around sporting venues, particularly football grounds. I refer to genuflection.
Has the question even been considered as to whether those rituals offend or antagonise?
I deplore discrimination, but worse is the ignorance or hypocrisy of government when avoiding facts.
Alan Bell.24 Roods,Kirriemuir.
True height of Fife turbines
Sir,-Now the Lingo wind farm south of St Andrews is revealed, I find that few people have any idea how tall these turbines will be.
Most of us can visualise 100 metres on the flat but few realise that 100 metres high is equal to a 33-storey skyscraper and there are not many of those around.
How can the developer say that these skyscrapers will not have a significant impact on the landscape?
They will be visible from almost all of Fife yet not visible from St Andrews. Is this a mitigating factor?
(Dr) D. King.Kinaldy House,St Andrews.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.